The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-09-03
Ia GRANDE CHARTREuSe.
Queen Nictorla's vislt To the Cradle OF
the Carthusian Order.

the Carthusian Order.
IL Is quite true that the foot NJ an
, ordinary woman. or OF an ordinary
lady, has never crossed the threshold
OF the entrance gate of the Grandc
Chartrcuse; but during the last eight
hundred years great number of Queens
have visited and dined in the grand old
monastery. The daughter aud sue
cessor of the renowned Gustavus
Adolphus was one of them; Christina
Of Sweden was received INTO IL Just "A
short time before she abdicatcd the
crown and abjured Professionalism and
became fervent child of the Catholic
church. No rule. therefore. was vio-
lated; no custom was momcntarily for
gotten; no exception was made in IA
vor Of her Brittanic Majesty. Quccn
Victoria had perfectly legal right 10
bo admitted into the old cloist-
orS. and 10 DO conducted through
Sll the cells and 10 loo
shown every thing which she wished
TO see from the top To the bottom of
the aged pile. But to he received into
oloistered converts Kings must bc
actually rcigning; and To bc admitted
into the monasteries OF the same kind
Queens must bo actually rcigning; so
that were her Majesty Of England 10
abdicate tomorrow and knock Just the
next day at the old gate Of La Grandc
Chartrcusc. or at that Of any of the !
houses Of tho order. she would not be
allowed to cross tho threshold of any |
OF them. When either Kings or Queens
cease TO reign they fall into the cate
CORY of private persons and they are
are rigidly excluded Such Is tho law.
Her Majesty remained In the mon
astory about four hours. She did not
dino, because no notice Of her visit had
been sent beforehand 20 the Father
General, and so there was no timo for
n dinner for the royal party.
But the modest Queen partook very
heartily OF a collation., which was COM
posed of chocolate, biscuits, iellics and
confcctionories Of various kinds. She
did moro than that She inquired ~
the reverend father II any Of her rood
children from any Of the three king
doms were among his children Of the
Grandc Chartrcusc; and, having
learned that there was young and
Englishman actually in tho
She nj once expressed IA
strong wish TO visit him in his own
little cell Q do not know the family
namo OF the young man. but no Ia a
convert and the son Of an English
Protestant clergyman.) Her Majosty's
wish was forthwith gralifed Tho
Fathcr-Gcneral was her pilot through
the obscure windings of the cloistors,
The young son Of ST. liruno received
his sovereign with great ease. modesty
md politoness. The good Queen was
quito charmed. She sat down upon nm
I'D straw chair close by him aud
'hattcd with him materially for
learly half an hour Sho pious-
recommended both herself and
Ter faithful subjects 10 his good pray
rs; and she was so highly pleased
Vlth his odifying conversation that
ho went the length Of requesting him
o give her u little ''souvcnir'' which
'ould enable her after her return 10
'ngland to recall 10 her mind th.
pleasure she derived from her visit to
Inn and tho Grand Chartrouso. uo
vas the first English clustered monk
o whom her Majesty had ever opened
or royal lips. The young son Of st.
'runo Mt once presented to her a small
liver cruoiiix Of very ancient date and .
cry fine workmanship. IL was the
My thing Of any value that he had In
his cell. The Queen did not kiss
le image Of her crucifod Redeemcr,
ut she gracefully accepted IT., placed
carefully in one of her pockets, very
fectionatoly bado farewell 10 tho I
Dung convert and In very short /
me aftcrward she departed from tho
enerable cradle Of the Carthuslan Or
cr Pal MAI gazette.